Umpqua Tribe threatens legal action

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NORTH BEND, Ore. -- There are new developments in the Umpqua and Coquille dispute over a casino in Medford.

The Coquille Tribe announced a few weeks ago that it purchased land in Medford to build a second casino.

The next step is to petition the U.S. Interior Department to place the land in federal trust.

The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe says that land is not Coquille territory, and since then, it has vigorously opposed the project.

The Umpqua Tribe says it will file lawsuits if the Interior Secretary agrees to place the land in trust.

The Coquille Tribe spokesman, Ray Doering, says the tribe will move forward with the project.

"Coquille Tribe's proposal for a place to offer Class 2 gaming in Medford is really within the legal aspects of both the restoration act and the compact with the state, so in that regard the Tribe feels very confident that it not only can do this, but it will do this as soon as possible," he said.

Doering says this project has been in works for over a year, so this threat is not enough to slow it down.